Leading the Field
At Athari Bio, the impacts we make every day are driven by our compassionate and collaborative leadership team. Decades of expertise and unique experiences inform creative, innovative solutions for the greatest challenges facing public health.
Susan Mitchell, MEL
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Susan is an implementation scientist and translational researcher committed to delivering knowledge, skills, and abilities that solve the contemporary challenges of today while developing solutions for a brighter tomorrow. With a strong passion for innovation, Susan Mitchell is eager to leverage her government contracting experiences to make meaningful contributions in the biotech industry. Susan is known for protecting people, programs, and performance at the helm of Guardians of Honor. After 20+ years leading teams that support program evaluations, grants management, research, and workforce development efforts for agencies such as NSF, NIH, and NASA, Susan is deploying that body of knowledge to positively impact the biotech industry via her newest venture, Athari BioSciences, an independent CLIA certified BSL-2 diagnostic, research, and training laboratory. Driven by collaboration and a deep desire to advance wellness and workforce initiatives, Susan brings her expertise to the forefront with unwavering dedication. Her efforts sustain the integrity of operational and program objectives and drive improvement and access. Her passion is safeguarding economic structures and transformation by facilitating purposeful participation and creating capacity within the broader economic landscape at all levels.
Ms. Mitchell graduated from Norfolk State University with a B.S. in Mass Communications. She earned a Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies from Hampton University and successfully completed her Master’s in Executive Leadership from Liberty University’s Stern School of Business.
Tshaka Cunningham, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Cunningham, Ph.D., completed his doctoral studies in Virology and Immunology at Rockefeller University in New York City, following an undergraduate education in Molecular Biology from Princeton University.
His professional journey includes serving as an Associate Research Scientist within the Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Division at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Additionally, Dr. Cunningham has provided independent consultation services to a diverse range of biotech companies, including both established firms and early-stage startups.
With a robust background spanning over 25 years, Dr. Cunningham has amassed extensive expertise in basic and applied translational research encompassing genomics, molecular and cellular biology. Furthermore, his skill set extends to biotechnology product development and consultancy within the life sciences domain.
Tammey Naab, MD
Chief Medical Officer & Laboratory Director
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tammey Naab has a 28-year career as a laboratory director, 20 years as the Director of Laboratory Services at Howard University Hospital, and eight years as the Laboratory Director at a private lab in Maryland. She is triple boarded in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and medical microbiology.
She earned her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed her pathology residency, followed by a fellowship in medical microbiology at Cleveland Clinic.
She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Clinical Pathology, College of American Pathologists, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and Association for Molecular Pathology.
During the past decade, she has authored 121 posters, which have been presented at annual national meetings, and has more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. Her areas of clinical expertise include medical microbiology, infectious diseases, molecular genetics, genitourinary pathology, breast pathology, and genogenic immunohistochemistry. She has a special research interest in COVID-19.
She has a special research interest in COVID-19, Long Covid, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
Jeannett Jackman
Chief Operating Officer
Jeannett Jackman is a seasoned executive with over two decades of leadership in government contracting, compliance, and program operations across the defense, public health, biodefense, and medical device sectors. As Chief Operating Officer at Athari BioSciences, she brings extensive expertise in federal procurement strategy, operational transformation, and large-scale contract management—having managed portfolios with budgets exceeding $3 billion.
Prior to joining Athari Bio, Jeannett held senior leadership roles at Emergent BioSolutions, where she oversaw complex government contracts supporting BARDA and NIH medical countermeasure initiatives. Her work advanced the acquisition and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, and she led the creation of a government contracts compliance training center of excellence. Jeannett has also held procurement and contracting officer positions at the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Labor, Department of Energy, and BARDA, where she earned multiple special act awards for her strategic innovations and leadership.
Jeannett holds a Master of Science in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Antioch University McGregor. She also holds Level III certifications in Contracting from both the Defense Acquisition University (DAWIA) and the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAC-C), along with a Master Certificate in Contracting from The George Washington University.
Sonora Jackson
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Sonora Jackson is a visionary creative leader with over 20 years of experience shaping brand strategy and visual storytelling across the healthcare, nonprofit, life insurance, and financial services sectors. As Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Athari BioSciences, she leads the company’s strategic messaging, creative direction, and brand development—translating complex scientific ideas into compelling narratives that resonate across diverse audiences.
Before joining Athari Bio, Sonora served as Creative Director for health tech company Get Well, where she led a full-scale rebrand and delivered award-winning campaigns recognized for innovation and engagement. Her leadership directly contributed to measurable gains in brand visibility, digital engagement, and campaign performance. She also previously held senior roles at WAEPA and Grant Thornton LLP, where she managed national advertising initiatives, corporate branding, and high-profile client engagement strategies.
At Athari Bio, Sonora directs the organization’s marketing and communications ecosystem, elevating the brand’s public presence while advancing its mission in genomics, diagnostic innovation, and national health transformation. She collaborates closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to build meaningful connections through storytelling, data-driven content, and integrated design.
Sonora earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Marketing Management and Mass Communication from Virginia Tech. She is the founder of Sdot Creative Studio, a brand and design consultancy specializing in health and wellness communication, and has been honored with multiple industry awards for her creative leadership and campaign impact.